Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle East
Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Qatar, a rapidly developing country in the Middle East, has seen a sharp increase in the prevalence of obesity. The increase can be attributed to several reasons, including sedentary lifestyles imposed by a harsh climate and the introduction of Western fast f...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2014-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/658149 |
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| _version_ | 1832548884935606272 |
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| author | Selma Limam Mansar Shashank Jariwala Nawal Behih Maahd Shahzad Aysha Anggraini |
| author_facet | Selma Limam Mansar Shashank Jariwala Nawal Behih Maahd Shahzad Aysha Anggraini |
| author_sort | Selma Limam Mansar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Qatar, a rapidly developing country in the Middle East, has seen a sharp increase in the prevalence of obesity. The increase can be attributed to several reasons, including sedentary lifestyles imposed by a harsh climate and the introduction of Western fast food. Mobile technologies have been used and studied as a technology to support individuals’ weight loss. The authors have developed a mobile application that implements three strategies drawn from proven theories of behavioral change. The application is localized to the cultural context of its proposed users. The objective of this paper is to present a method through which we adapted the messaging content of a weight loss application to the context of its users while retaining an effective degree of automation. The adaptation addressed body image, eating and physical exercise habits, and regional/cultural needs. The paper discusses how surveying potential users can be used to build a profile of a target population, find common patterns, and then develop a database of text messages. The text messages are automated and sent to the users at specific times of day, as suggested by the survey results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5b5c2d2451c14129a80fbebe43717dab |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-6415 1687-6423 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications |
| spelling | doaj-art-5b5c2d2451c14129a80fbebe43717dab2025-02-03T06:12:45ZengWileyInternational Journal of Telemedicine and Applications1687-64151687-64232014-01-01201410.1155/2014/658149658149Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle EastSelma Limam Mansar0Shashank Jariwala1Nawal Behih2Maahd Shahzad3Aysha Anggraini4Information Systems Program, Carnegie Mellon University, Doha, QatarInformation Systems Program, Carnegie Mellon University, Doha, QatarInformation Systems Program, Carnegie Mellon University, Doha, QatarInformation Systems Program, Carnegie Mellon University, Doha, QatarInformation Systems Program, Carnegie Mellon University, Doha, QatarObesity has become a worldwide epidemic. Qatar, a rapidly developing country in the Middle East, has seen a sharp increase in the prevalence of obesity. The increase can be attributed to several reasons, including sedentary lifestyles imposed by a harsh climate and the introduction of Western fast food. Mobile technologies have been used and studied as a technology to support individuals’ weight loss. The authors have developed a mobile application that implements three strategies drawn from proven theories of behavioral change. The application is localized to the cultural context of its proposed users. The objective of this paper is to present a method through which we adapted the messaging content of a weight loss application to the context of its users while retaining an effective degree of automation. The adaptation addressed body image, eating and physical exercise habits, and regional/cultural needs. The paper discusses how surveying potential users can be used to build a profile of a target population, find common patterns, and then develop a database of text messages. The text messages are automated and sent to the users at specific times of day, as suggested by the survey results.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/658149 |
| spellingShingle | Selma Limam Mansar Shashank Jariwala Nawal Behih Maahd Shahzad Aysha Anggraini Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle East International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications |
| title | Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle East |
| title_full | Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle East |
| title_fullStr | Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle East |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle East |
| title_short | Adapting a Database of Text Messages to a Mobile-Based Weight Loss Program: The Case of the Middle East |
| title_sort | adapting a database of text messages to a mobile based weight loss program the case of the middle east |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/658149 |
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